Religious Beliefs and Spirituality in India

Although 80.5% of the population is Hindu, India's Muslim population, which constitutes 13.4% of the population, is the world's second largest Muslim population. Other religious groups include Christians (2.3%), Sikhs (1.9%), Buddhists (0.8%), Jains (0.4%), Jews, Zoroastrians, Bahá'ís and others. Eight percent of India's people are classified as tribal.

The Indian constitution declares India to be a secular republic and protects the rights of citizens to worship and propagate any religion or faith. Religion is an important force in India, visible in many aspects of life. Political parties have strongly stances with regard to secularism and religious fundamentalism. Since the country was partitioned in 1947 after it won independence from the British Empire, there has been trouble between the Hindus and the Muslims including the 1992 Bombay Riots following the demolition of Babri Mosque as a result of the Ayodhya debate, and the 2002 Gujarat violence following the Godhra Train Burning.

Many believe that communal strife in India is a result of petty political maneuvering rather but there is no doubt that there are resentments under the surface that politicians are able to exploit for their purposes.